Staple remover



June M, E960 s. SEGAL.

STAPLE REMOVER Original Filed April '7. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. SEGALSTAPLE REMOVER `fame 14, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April '7.1953 lll anniv/lill l Ja/mud ya S. SEGAL.

STAPLE REMOVER june M, 960

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed April 7, 1955 lvwaztor wd @Qq/@ flifedfF31@ ,Patent STAPLE REMOVER Samuel Segal, Apt. A, 441 West End Ave., NewYork, N.Y.

Original application April 7, 1953, Ser. No. 347,215, n ow Patent lflo.2,776,109, dated Jan. 1, 1957.. Diglzdlegszslnd this application Nov.13, 1956, Ser. No.

8 Claims. (Cl. 254-28) This invention relates to a staple removerparticularly adapted to remove st aplesv that are clinched through aplurality of sheets of paper or similar material, or embedded in a -woodsurface such asa counter, shelf, or drawing board. A f This applicationis a division of my prior application Serial No. 347,215, tiled April 7,1953, which issued as Patent No. 2,776,109 on January 1, 1957.

' It is an object of this invention to provide a staple remover that caneciency remove staples clinched through a plurality of sheets of paperwithout tearing or mutilating the sheets.

Another object/is to provide a staple remover that works eiiciently'Vywith staples of dilferent widths.

It is a further object to provide a. staple remover that may be operatedvery rapidly without requiring excess caution.

A further object is to provide a staple remover with means for quicklyand easily removing any staples that may be caught on either jaw of theremover after a staple removing operation.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following description, takenin conjunction with theaccompanying drawings illustrating two preferred embodiments of theinvention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along the, line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. l; YFig. 5 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 5, showing the staple`removing jaws in closed position immediately after the staple removingoperation;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the operationof the nger for removing staples from the jaw of the device;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the stapleremover;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 8, showing the jaws ofthe staple remover in closed position;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 8, showing one jawheld in inoperative position;

Fig. 11 .is a cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 9, with one jaw heldin inoperative position; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken along the lines 1212of Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, the staple remover comprisesa pair of jaw members 2 and 3, pivoted together adjacent one end by ahinge pin 4. The jaw 2 is channel shaped and has a back wall 5 and twoside walls 6 and 7 which extend inwardly towards the jaw 3. The jaw 3has a back wall 8 and sidewalls 9 ice and 10 extending inwardly towardsthe jaw 2. The hinge pin 4 extends through the side walls 6, 7, 9 and10. The

. members v1,2 and 13 are each provided with a pair of laterallyprojecting wing portions 15 adjacent the fr ee end of the jaws tofacilitate manipulation of the jaws:

The frame members 12 and 13 are preferably formed of plastic, but may beof any other suitable material.'

The side walls 6 and 7 ofthe jaw member 2 each terminates at its freeend in a claw 16 having an inwardly extending pointed staple engagingend 17. An oppositely disposed claw 18, provided with a back wall 19 anda pair of inwardly extending side walls 20 and 21, is pivoted to the jawmember 2 yabout midway of lits length by a hinge pin 22 which extendsthrough the. side walls .6, 7, 20, and 21. The side walls 20 and 21 ofthe claw 18 are in the same planes as the side Iwalls 9 and 10, whichterminate approximately midway of the length of jaw member 3, to provideclearance for the claw.18. The side walls 20 and 21 each terminate in aninwardly extending pointed staple engaging end 23. A spring 24, coiledaround the hinge pin 22, has one end bearing against the back wall 19 ofclaw 18 to urge the claw 18 outwardly, so that its back edge is normallyheld against the back wall 8 of the jaw member 3.

The method of operating the staple remover to remove Ya staple from aplurality of sheets of paper or similar material is illustrated in Figs.5 and 6. The pointed ends 17 of claw 16 are positioned in engagementwith one edge of a staple 25 clinched through a plurality of sheets 26,with the bottom edge of the claw 16 engaging the top surface of theuppermost sheet. The frame members 12` and 13 are grasped between thethumb and foreiinger, which are positioned at the wing portions 15, andare pressed together against the action of the spring 24. The pointedends 23 of claw 18 are moved into engagement with the opposite edge ofthe staple, and continued inward pressure against the jaws 2 and 3causes the pointed ends of the claws 16 and 18 to pass each other,thereby forcing the staple to ride upwardly along the curved upper edgesof the claws. the free end of clalw 18 is greater than the distance frompivot 22 to the free end of claw 16. This difference in the length ofthe claws also causes the ends 17 of claw 16 to move vertically relativeto the ends 23 of claw 18, the claw 16 moving upwardly abovethe sheets26 while the claw 18 remains in engagement with the sheets. Thisrelative movement o f claw 16 tends to straighten out the legs of thestaple 25 while the sheets are held down, thereby preventing tearing ormutilation of the sheets during the staple removing operation.

The staples removed from the sheets sometimes bind against the outersurfaces of the claw 16, and the presence of a plurality of such stapleswill interfere with the normally rapid operation of the staple remover.The staples may be pushed olf the claw with a linger nail, pencil, orvsimilar implement, but I have provided a mechanical finger whichfacilitates such removal without interfering with the efficient use ofthe staple remover. A linger 27 formed of a strip of metal fittingbetween the side walls 6 and 7 is provided with a pair of ears 28 bentat right angles thereto by means of which it is pivotally mounted on thehinge pin 22. The finger 27 is positioned between the end of spring 24and the back wall 5 so that it is normally held against the wall 5 bythe spring,

The distance from the pivot 22 to'l The free end 29 of the lingerprojects beyond the adjacent end ofthe jaw 2 'so that 'it may be moved'inwardly by iinger pressure against the action of spring 24. The iinger27 .moves between the side walls 6 and 7 past the pointed ends `17 to-sweep any staples from the claw 1'6. A's soon a's the en'd 29 isreleased the spring 24K/forces it outwardly against the back wall 5.Instead of using a flat metal strip .for the `finger it is possible 'toextend the end of spring '24 to make it project beyond the end of thejaw. To overcome the inconvenience that would be caused bythe singlelength of wire, it is preferably bent to provide a loop so that theportion engaged by the users Ztinger lpresents a smooth end.y

In Ithe embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 to ll, three jaw .members '30,3'1 and 32 are pvotallysecured 'together 'by a hingepin 33. The ljaw 30comprises 'a back wall '34 and twofinwardly extending side walls 35. Theside. walls 3 5 are each provided with an integral stop member 35' tolimit the inward pivotal movement of the jaws. The jaw 31 has a backwall 36 and two side walls '37. The side walls 35 and 37 terminate attheir free ends in pointed claws 3'5" and 37 adapted to engage one edgeof a staple to be removed.

The side walls 35 are each provided with a round aperture, and the sidewalls 37 are each provided with an elongated aperture 33 'for the hingepin 33, sov that the jaws 30 and 31 are slidable longitudinally relativeto each other. When the staple to be removed is too short to be engagedby the claws 37' the jaw 31 is moved upwardly relative to the jaw 3!Vinto its inoperative position. The back wall 34 is provided with a pairof longitudinally spaced recesses '34 Vand 34, and the back wall 36 isprovided ywith a projection 36 adapted to selecf.

tively engage the recesses to hold the jaw member 3'1 in eitheroperative or in inoperative positionv It is obvious that the projectionmay be on the baci; wall 314 and the recesses .in the back wall 36, ifdesired. Side walls 35 are spaced apart less than the distance betweenside' walls 37, so that jaw 3() may be positioned within jaw 31 withside walls 35 each spaced from side walls 37. The jaw 32 has a backwall38 and two side walls 39 extending inwardly towards side walls 35 and 37ywith cach wall 39 receivable between one wall 35 and the adjacent wall37. The hinge pin 33 extends through side walls 39 to pivotally securejaw 32 to jaws v30 and 31.

Outer frame members 4t? and 41 are secured to the jaw members 31 and 32,respectively, in any suitable manner, as, for example, by screws 42. Thevframe members 40 and 41 are each provided with a pair of laterallyprojecting wing portions 43 adjacent the free ends of the jaws tofacilitate manipulation of the jaws.

.The frame members 40 and 41 are preferably formed of plastic, but maybe made of any other suitable material. A claw l44 is pivoted to theside walls of the jaw 30 by a hinge pin 45. The hinge pin 45 does notpass through the side walls `of the jaw 31 because the jaws 30 and 31must be left free to slide longitudinally relative to cach other. Aspring `46 is coiled around the hinge pin 33 and has one end bearingagainst the back wall 47 of the claw 44 to hold it normally inengagement with the back wall 38 of jaw 32. The distance from the pivot45 to the end of claw 44 is greater than the distance from this samerpivot to the free end of jaw 30 as in the rst embodiment, so that whenthe jaws are pressed together to remove a staple, the claw 44 movesvertically relative to the claw of jaws 30 or 31. A staple removing nger48 is `pivotally secured to hinge pin 33 by ears 49 and is offset, asindicated at 50, so that only a very short movement is required toremove staples from the jaw if they become stuck thereon. The claw 44-cooperates with the claws integral with jaw members 30 and 31 in thesame manner as described in the irst embodiment.

Although I have described two preferred embodiments ot-myinventionindetail, -it will be understood that the 4 description thereof isintended to be illustrative, rather 'than restrictive, as many detailsof the structure maybe modified or changed without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to beresrticted to the exact construction described, eX- cept as limited bythe appended claims.

l. A staple remover comprising a pair of jaw members pivotally securedtogether adjacent `one end, a staple engaging claw integral with 'one'of said jaw members, a complementary staple engaging claw pivotallysecured tosaid tiret mentioned jaw member, spring means urging said jawmembers outwardly and holding said complementary claw with a portionthereof in engagement with said second mentioned j aw member, said jawmembers being movable together by finger pressure, and a iingerpivotally mounted adjacent one of said jaw members, the free end Iofsaid finger projecting beyond the `free end o'r' said adjacent jawmember, whereby vsaid linger' may be'manually movedrelative to saidadjacent claw to sweep therefrom any staples that may be retained onsaid claw after a staple removing operation. 4

2. A staple remover comprising a pair or channel shaped jaw memberspivotally secured together adjacent one end, one of said jaw membershaving inwardly extending side walls terminating at their `free ends ina pointed staple engaging claw, a complementary channel shaped stapleengaging claw having inwardly extending side walls and pivotally securedto said first mentioned jaw member by a pin extending through both pairsof side walls, a .finger pivotally mountedvbetween thefside walls ofsaid 'first mentioned jaw member, the `free end of said fingerprojecting beyond the `free endV of jaw members, and a spring coiledaround said pin, the-free ends of saidl Spring pressing against Saiduser'- and Seid complementary claw to urge said jaw members outwardly.-and to v.hold Asaidiinger against one of said jaw members, the rear edgeportion of said complementaryclaw fitting within the channel of saidsec/ond mentioned, jaw member, whereby said staple engaging claws may bemoved inwardly to engage opposite sides of an embedded staple positionedtherebetween by finger .pressure appliedl to said jaw members, and saidfinger may be manually moved inwardly'against the action of said springto sweep staples from said iirst mentioned claw.

3. A -staple remover comprising a pair of channel shaped jaw memberspivotally secured together adjacent one End, one -of said jaw membershaving inwardly 'extending side walls terminating at their free ends inka pointed staple engaging claw, a complementary channel shaped stapleengaging claw having inwardly extending side walls and pivotally securedto said rst mentioned jaw member by a pin extending through both pairs.of side walls, a .nger pivotally mounted adjacent: saidrtirst mentionedjaw member, the free end of said iingerprof jecting beyond the free endof said rst mentioned :jaw member, a spring having its free endspressing against said finger and said complementary claw ,to urgeY saidjaw members outwardly, and to hold said ringer against said firstmentioned jaw member, the rear edge portion of said second jaw memberadjacent the staple engaging claw .tting within the channel of said rstmentioned jaw member, whereby said staple engaging claws may'be movedinwardly to engage opposite sides of an embedded g staple positionedtherebetween by iinger pressure applied to said jaw members, andsaid'linger may be manuallyy moved inwardly relative to the firstmentioned jaw member against the action of said spring to sweep staplesfrom said iirst mentioned claw, and means for vertically displacing saidclaws Krelative to each other as said jaw mem# bers are moved towardseach other beyond the point at which said staple engaging claws meeteach other.

4. A staple remover comprising a pair of channel shaped jaw memberspivotally secured togetheradjacent one end, one ,of` said jaw membershaving inwardly ex@A tending side walls terminating at their free endsin a staple engaging claw, a complementary channel shaped stapleengaging claw having inwardly extending side walls and pivotally securedto said iirst mentioned jaw member by a pin extending through both pairsof side walls, a linger pivotally mounted adjacent said first mentionedjaw member, the free end of said nger projecting beyond the free end ofsaid first mentioned jaw member, and a spring having its free endspressing against said tinger and said complementary claw to urge saidjaw members outwardly, and to hold said finger against said firstmentioned jaw member, the rear edge portion of said second jaw memberadjacent the staple engaging claw fitting within the channel of said rstmentioned jaw member, whereby said staple engaging claws may be movedinwardly to engage opposite sides of an embedded staple positionedtherebetween, each of said claws having inwardly pointed ends meeting ata common level when said jaw members are pressed together to engageopposite sides of an embedded staple, the distance from said pin to thefree end of said complementary claw being greater than the distance fromsaid pin to the free end of said rst mentioned jaw member, wherebyinward movement of said jaw members beyond the point of engage ment ofsaid pointed ends causes relative vertical displacement between saidpointed ends.

5. A staple remover comprising three jaw members secured togetheradjacent one end thereof, one of said jaw members being positionedwithin the second jaw member, each of said first two jaw membersterminating at its free end in a staple engaging claw, another stapleengaging claw pivotally secured to said first mentioned jaw and disposedin opposite relation to said first mentioned claws, and a springpositioned between said first jaw member and said third claw, wherebysaid rst jaw member is pressed against said second jaw member and said.third claw is normally held with its rear edge in engagement with saidthird jaw member, said jaw members being movable together by lingerpressure against the action of said spring to move said third claw intocooperating relationship with said other claws Ito remove a clinchedstaple engaged on opposite sides by said claws.

6. A staple remover comprising three jaw members secured togetheradjacent one end thereof, one of said jaw members being positionedwithin the second jaw member, each of said tirst two jaw membersterminating at its free end in a staple engaging claw, said second jawbeing slidable between an upper and lower position relative to saidiirst jaw member, another staple engaging claw pivotally secured to saidfirst mentioned jaw and disposed in opposite relation to said iirstmentioned claws, a spring positioned between said rst jaw member andsaid third claw, whereby said iirst jaw member is pressed against saidsecond jaw member and said third claw is normally held with its rearedge in engagement with said third jaw member, the claws of both saidrst and second jaws being engageable with one side of a clinched staple,said staple being out of reach of the claw of said second jaw when saidsecond jaw is in its upper position, said jaw members being movabletogether by linger pressure against the action of said spring to movesaid third claw into cooperating relationship with said first claw, whensaid second claw is in its upper position, and into cooperatingrelationship with said rst and second claws when said second claw is inits lower position, to remove a clinched staple engaged on oppositesides by said claws, a. pair of longitudinally spaced recesses in one ofsaid rst two jaw members, and a projection extending from the other ofsaid rst two jaw members, said projection being engageable with saidrecesses to hold said second jaw member in either upper or lowerposition.

7. A staple remover comprising three jaw members secured togetheradjacent one end thereof, one of said jaw members being positionedwithin the second jaw member, each of said iirst two jaw membersterminating at its free end in a staple engaging claw, said rst two jawmembers being movable longitudinally relative to each other to displacesaid claws vertically, cooperating means on said first two jaw membersto hold one of said claws in an upper position relative to Vthe other,another staple engaging claw pivotally secured to said iirst mentionedjaw and disposed in opposite relation to said rst mentioned claws, and aspring positioned between said tirst jaw member and said third claw,whereby said iirst jaw member is pressed against said second jaw memberand said third claw is normally held with its rear edge in engagementwith said third jaw member, said jaw members being movable together bylinger pressure against the action of said spring to move said thirdclaw into cooperating relationship with said rst and second claws whensaid iirst and second claws are not vertically displaced relative toeach other, and to the lower claw when said first and second claws arevertically displaced relative to each other, to remove a clinched stapleengaged on opposite sides by said claws.

8. A staple remover comprising three jaw members secured togetheradjacent one end thereof, one of said jaw members being positionedwithin the second jaw member, each of said first two jaw membersterminating at its free end in a staple engaging claw, said second jawmember being slidable longitudinally relative to said rst jaw member tomove the second claw between an upper and lower position, a pair oflongitudinally spaced recesses in one of said rst two jaw members, aprojection extending from the other of said first two jaw members, saidprojection being engageable with said recesses -to hold said second jawmember in its upper or lower position, another staple engaging clawpivotally secured to said first mentioned jaw and disposed in oppositerelation to said rst mentioned claws, and a spring positioned betweensaid first jaw member and said third claw, whereby said first jaw memberis pressed against said second jaw member, and said third claw isnormally held with a portion of its rear edge in engagement with saidthird jaw member, said jaw members being movable together by ngerpressure against the action of said spring to move said third claw intocooperating relationship with said iirst `and second claws when saidsecond claw is in its lower position, and with said first claw when saidsecond claw is in its upper position, to remove clinched staples engagedon opposite sides by said claws, each of said claws having inwardlypointed ends meeting at a common level when said jaws are pressedtogether to engage opposite sides of a staple, the distance from thepivot of said third claw to its free end being greater than the distancefrom said pivot to the free end of said iirst jaw member, whereby inwardmovement of said jaw members beyond the meeting point of said pointedends causes relative vertical displacement between the pointed ends ofsaid third claw and the pointed ends of said other claws.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,549,260 Sudbury Apr. 7, 1951 2,592,570 Hofstetter Apr. 15, 19522,662,727 Yerkes Dec. l5, 1953

